Hesperia, Michigan
The early history of Hesperia is recorded in the records of Oceana and
Newaygo counties, particularly in
that of Newfield and Denver Townships, starting about the year 1858. The
country around Hesperia was
settled before the village was created. A few hardy pioneers came into the
dense wilderness and began
clearings previous to 1866.
The town was planned by John Cook and surveyed by Thad Waters aided by Sam
Shaw and platted in
the fall of 1866. Shortly after the plat was finished it was proposed to
call the village "New Ocea"
combining half the names of the two counties in which it stands, Newaygo
and Oceana. The matter
was finally submitted to Miss Mary Cook, the daughter of John Cook, who
has the honor of giving the village
it's present name "Hesperia" or the beautiful garden.
The building boom did not begin until 1870 when many buildings were
erected and business was good.
The village sawmill cut logs into lumber with an upright saw and many logs
in the mill pond furnished the
supply and some boards were over two feet wide without knots. In 1872 G.D.
Weaver purchased the
sawmill and water power and operated it for twenty seven years until it
burned in 1899.
In 1883, the state legislature passed an act which authorized Hesperia to
become a village. Everything
went quite well in the village through the 80's and 90's. Everyone was
busy working in the woods and on
the White River. The river was named for a deposit of white marl occurring
near its mouth. This deposit
was dredged out during the lumbering days. Even today, the White River
draws many for the fishing,
camping, and canoeing.
Hesperia is still a lively, small rural village with many businesses and
attractions.
Many come to the 4th of July Festival and parade with an art fair, the
Salmon Festival in the fall, and to
enjoy the many lakes and cottages in the area. People come and go as in
most small villages but many
children of families who have lived here stay and raise their children
here.
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